Riding and rucking in the rain

[Bret SD]

The weather forecast here for Saturday was rain starting around noon or so.. Since my calf won't allow me to run right now I decided to grab my ALICE pack and headed to Lake Hodges for a ruck session. I left my house around noon and the weather was partly cloudy, it remained so when I pulled up at the lake. My hope was to enjoy the ruck session in a light rain so I threw on my light pack of 33 lbs and started on the trail around the lake. After a mile and a half or so the rain started and increased in intensity as I walked along. By the time I hit the halfway mark which for this session was about 2 mi I turned around and headed back.

By this time the rain was pouring pretty steadily and I was getting soaked, I stuck to the road as the trail was becoming a mud pit. While walking along the main road bordering the lake I saw a pickup truck turn into a driveway about 50 feet in front of me and thought nothing of it, as I walked along I heard somebody say 'hey bro', I turned and looked and it was the same truck with dude in it who was around my age I would guess.. He said he saw me walking in the rain and that God compelled him to come and ask me if I needed help, he said he had an extra raincoat in the truck which I assume he wanted to give to me. I told him that walking in the rain was part of my plan and he looked at me kind of funny, so I thanked him for the kind gesture but declined the offer.

I noticed he had a cross hanging on his neck and later I noticed that my cross was hanging out of my shirt. Neither of us mentioned it but I'm sure we both thought about it. I think there are some truly kind and caring people in this world and this man was one of them, not that being a Christian is prerequisite to doing acts of kindness.

When I finally got back to the bike it was pouring rain pretty steadily and I had covered the bike before I left, not that it did me any good haha. So I proceeded to uncover the bike and shove the wet cover into the saddle bag, then I opened the other saddle bag and got out the two extra shirts I had brought with me. I put those on along with my leather vest along with my summer riding gloves, the temperature was in the 50s I believe as I took off riding back. The raindrops were big enough to sting my face and visibility was very poor. But my Old Faithful 39 year old Goldwing got me back to the house as I was shivering and wet. I proceeded to wipe the bike down and undressed right in the garage and threw my clothes into the washer and headed up to the shower.

I ended up walking just under 4 miles in the hour I was out and consider it a very pleasant and successful outing. My girl thinks I'm a little crazy for doing things like that, but honestly those are the things that make me feel the most alive.  

[Skinhead]

it's good to get used to discomfort and adverse conditions.  Form what You have posted about your training, it sounds like you can deal with them.

[Bret SD]

it's good to get used to discomfort and adverse conditions.  Form what You have posted about your training, it sounds like you can deal with them.

Yes.. kinda.. it's all part of the same plan, getting uncomfortable is one of the best things we can do to increase our strength and vitality I believe.
When I think of what the Sherpas do at Mount Everest, and the heavy loads they carry at unbelievably high altitude it just boggles my mind, not to mention the death defying acts they perform setting things up for the weak Western climbers who then go on to brag about their own acts of heroism, sometimes it makes me feel shame. They probably look at us and just shake their heads in disgust. 
I'm just a lightweight dabbling in discomfort, but ya gotta do... something.. 

[..]

 

I used to do stuff like that but now knees don't like to be pounded too much.

[msb]

Living here in SW BC, if you're afraid of rain, you better be an inside person. I've never let rain interfere with my riding and especially fishing. Like you with your hiking (I guess "rucking" if you're a serious hiker?  that's what my daughter and son in law do up North) I actually enjoy being out in the rain. Properly prepared, I find it even refreshing at times. The Mrs and me do a lot of moderate hiking (you would probably call it just walking... lol), and in the Winter and Spring it can be wet for extended periods. Same as on the bike, with decent rain gear, we've never let rain interrupt our rides once we're out and on our way already.
Nice story... Nice Wing. I wasn't aware you had one as well. Had it for a while?

[Bret SD]

I used to do stuff like that but now knees don't like to be pounded too much.

My mentor is a warrior from way back, he's 50 yrs old and weighs 230 lbs with a collection of training injuries you wouldn't believe. Both of his knees are literally bone on bone. The guy is scary strong, he has bench-pressed over 600 pounds in the past and can run for 9 miles regularly.. he started running in 2015 for literally 10 seconds and walking for a distance he could manage, each time out he would add a few seconds to his run time.. This strategy done consistently for weeks and months and years will and does remodel the body's tissues.

Every time out when I'm running I work on run technique and nasal only breathing, it's a journey for sure. When I started running two and a half years ago my calves would take turns locking up, so I had to use the same strategy of run and walk. Now I've gotten to the point where I can run up to seven miles in a session, and probably longer, to date I haven't pushed the bar beyond that.

If you start small and be consistent your body will adapt, and the reward will be many more years of health, strength and riding. I know this likely isn't news to you but sometimes it's good to hear these things.. Hope you don't mind bro

[Bret SD]

Living here in SW BC, if you're afraid of rain, you better be an inside person. I've never let rain interfere with my riding and especially fishing. Like you with your hiking (I guess "rucking" if you're a serious hiker?  that's what my daughter and son in law do up North) I actually enjoy being out in the rain. Properly prepared, I find it even refreshing at times. The Mrs and me do a lot of moderate hiking (you would probably call it just walking... lol), and in the Winter and Spring it can be wet for extended periods. Same as on the bike, with decent rain gear, we've never let rain interrupt our rides once we're out and on our way already.
Nice story... Nice Wing. I wasn't aware you had one as well. Had it for a while?

I hear you on being out in the rain, here in Southern California we don't get rain most of the year but when we do it pours pretty heavily. I noticed when I was up in Sequim that people were out in the rain on motorcycles and on construction sites. Here you don't see that as much which is a shame, I do use it to my advantage because the places I go are mostly deserted in the rain, which is a big bonus around here.. I get tired of too many people.

Rucking is just walking for distance with a weighted pack, I built up to carrying 55lb for distance but have recently cut back on the weight just for something different. I'll eventually work up to carrying 70 lbs at 4 miles per hour. That takes serious dedication though, and right now my concentration is devoted to running more than anything else.

I've had the Wing for 2 years now and it's been a solid machine, the previous owner was a mechanic and went through most of it. There's just two or three small things I want to complete on that bike to make it a really nice long-distance riding machine. I was thinking of selling it or trading it for a rifle but honestly I do enjoy riding it, especially as a bagger.

[..]

I used to do stuff like that but now knees don't like to be pounded too much.

My mentor is a warrior from way back, he's 50 yrs old and weighs 230 lbs with a collection of training injuries you wouldn't believe. Both of his knees are literally bone on bone. The guy is scary strong, he has bench-pressed over 600 pounds in the past and can run for 9 miles regularly.. he started running in 2015 for literally 10 seconds and walking for a distance he could manage, each time out he would add a few seconds to his run time.. This strategy done consistently for weeks and months and years will and does remodel the body's tissues.

Every time out when I'm running I work on run technique and nasal only breathing, it's a journey for sure. When I started running two and a half years ago my calves would take turns locking up, so I had to use the same strategy of run and walk. Now I've gotten to the point where I can run up to seven miles in a session, and probably longer, to date I haven't pushed the bar beyond that.

If you start small and be consistent your body will adapt, and the reward will be many more years of health, strength and riding. I know this likely isn't news to you but sometimes it's good to hear these things.. Hope you don't mind bro

 

I used to do what the English Army did many years ago when traveling long distance in Europe.

Walk 3. Jog 3 repeat. Quick long walk strides. This with breathing as if at high altitude. Expelling with a cough/huff at the end to empty the lungs and get maximum oxygen in.

[Bret SD]

I used to do stuff like that but now knees don't like to be pounded too much.

My mentor is a warrior from way back, he's 50 yrs old and weighs 230 lbs with a collection of training injuries you wouldn't believe. Both of his knees are literally bone on bone. The guy is scary strong, he has bench-pressed over 600 pounds in the past and can run for 9 miles regularly.. he started running in 2015 for literally 10 seconds and walking for a distance he could manage, each time out he would add a few seconds to his run time.. This strategy done consistently for weeks and months and years will and does remodel the body's tissues.

Every time out when I'm running I work on run technique and nasal only breathing, it's a journey for sure. When I started running two and a half years ago my calves would take turns locking up, so I had to use the same strategy of run and walk. Now I've gotten to the point where I can run up to seven miles in a session, and probably longer, to date I haven't pushed the bar beyond that.

If you start small and be consistent your body will adapt, and the reward will be many more years of health, strength and riding. I know this likely isn't news to you but sometimes it's good to hear these things.. Hope you don't mind bro

 

I used to do what the English Army did many years ago when traveling long distance in Europe.

Walk 3. Jog 3 repeat. Quick long walk strides. This with breathing as if at high altitude. Expelling with a cough/huff at the end to empty the lungs and get maximum oxygen in.

That's an excellent strategy for moving long distances, I haven't tried running for any distance or time with a heavy pack, I don't think my knees would like it very much so I just stick to walking while carrying a load anyway.

There's a low tide this afternoon which makes for a flatter running surface at the beach, I'll probably go down there and do a walk run.. I know if I tried to run the whole distance in my calf locks up I'll be extremely disappointed.

[Jess from VA]

I drove to the Walmart to stock up on food in the rain.  But I had to ruck it to the truck and then into the house in the rain.

Hey, at least I got out.   

Good story Brett. 

My dad ran (jogged) for many years in his middle age and beyond.  He ended up having to get both new knees.  That's pretty common. 

[Bret SD]

I drove to the Walmart to stock up on food in the rain.  But I had to ruck it to the truck and then into the house in the rain.

Hey, at least I got out.   

Good story Brett. 

My dad ran (jogged) for many years in his middle age and beyond.  He ended up having to get both new knees.  That's pretty common. 

Haha, that's funny Jess! You gotter done though 

I made it to the beach today and started walking, felt good so I ran slowly at about a 14 1/2 min/mi pace. All was good, man that made me happy!

Re knees, I think the ballistic weight training and periodization I do with all training really helps protect against excessive wear on joints. Ballistic resistance training really strengthens and elasticizes tendons and other connective tissue. It makes me feel 'springy' and explosive.
Not saying I'm bulletproof, but it is one of the goals